Mr. Wilbur W. Yates, age 91 of Chrisman passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2006 at Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was born on January 24, 1915 in Indianola, Illinois to Arthur L. and Ella R. (Harmon) Yates. Mr. Yates was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and retired from the U.S. Post Office in Chrisman after 30 years of service. Wilbur loved gardening, fishing in Canada with friends, spending winters in New Mexico, bingo and walking two and a half miles per day while picking up cans. He was a member of Chrisman American Legion Post #477 where he was the Grave Registration Officer and Flag Chairman. He was also past Commander and ran bingo at the Legion for many years. Wilbur was recognized for service to the community of Chrisman with a plaque in his honor placed at the Centennial Park. He is survived by one sister, Imogene Starr of Alamogordo, New Mexico, several nieces, nephews, cousins and loved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and three brothers. Per Mr. Yates (Uncle Will?s) request, a graveside military funeral service will be held Friday, January 5, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Woodland Cemetery in Chrisman with Pastor Lloyd Simpson officiating. Memorials may be given to the Chrisman American Legion Post #477. The Krabel Funeral Home in Chrisman is in charge of the arrangements

Joined CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) for 2 1/2 years. During summers worked for brother Harmon Lee on a baler. Drafted into the Army 3-20-1941. Spent 16 months 8 days in the Army. Medical DC related to gallbladder disease. Served in NC and GA. Went to work in Chrisman Post Office in 1943-1972.

When retired, accepted a driving job for Earl and Ersel Fath of Chrisman spending time with them in Arizona.

Sunday, January 31, 2006 10:50 am

Just to let you know that Uncle Wilbur passed away about 1/2 hour ago. He took a turn for the worse early this morning -- kidneys failed, not oxygenating. We went after church and they were working on him then. Dr Guerra said that his blood pressure and heart rate were low, and they were giving drugs, but she did not feel that there was any hope. So we just had them stop everything, and got to be there with him as he died -- it was only about 15 minutes. He lived a good long life and he enjoyed every minute of it with a sound mind and sound 91 year old body until this devastating illness. His directives are to have his body shipped to Illinois and to have a graveside service there. Thank you so much for your prayers --he almost made it -- he really was very tough-the doctor was amazed. He made the decision to have the surgery, and she was impressed at how alert and "with it" he was even at that time 2 weeks ago when he was in such pain. Thanks again for your prayers. We have always been impressed by how much he has loved all his nieces and nephews...Nancy Starr ________________________________________

05:18 PM 12/31/2006

Hi, I just wanted to share with all of you the last things Uncle Wilbur had said to us on Dec 17. As I had told you, he had the Christmas dinner at the Senior Center with all his friends on Friday. Then we took him out for a steak that night. He woke up with upset stomach Saturday morning so we just thought indigestion or stomach flu. We had company for dinner Saturday night, so he retired to the recliner in his bedroom, not wanting to socialize. At 8 pm, I had this sudden urge to check on him -- he was doubled over with pain and said he needed to go to the hospital.

Larry ran him to the ER where he bravely endured blood tests, x-rays, MRI, IV's. I was still at home trying to sleep, but couldn't, so I was just praying and praying so hard. Larry called at 2 AM, saying that he was to go to surgery, so I dressed and ran over there. He was lying there in the ICU expressionless, but said to me "I am in misery". Then he said he was "sorry if he had broken up my party"!! One of the nurses checked with him on his name --Wilbur Yates-- and asked what people called him--"Uncle Wilbur" he said. Then, I told him that we were praying for him, and that God was with him, and if things did not work out, I knew that he would be with Jesus. He looked up at me, and just said "this is sounding serious". The last words he heard were that we were praying for him.

Larry went to the OR with him, and as you know from my emails, we have had a rollercoaster of ups and downs, with such a sad ending. We still have a pile of Christmas presents for him that he never got to open, and Christmas cards from so many people he liked to keep in touch with. We will miss having him sitting in the family room reading the piles of books that I provided for him --and he has a clipboard on his closet shelf where he recorded like every book he has read for the last 10 years! He loved to read. We have several jigsaw puzzles we bought him for Christmas -- he loved doing puzzles on our dining room table. He mall walked 7 days a week. He was the only one there on Sundays since everyone else was in church, and he always showed us all the coins he found in the parking lot!

The Sunday before he got sick, he actually came to church with us. Larry and I were playing piano duets, and the children were putting on a Christmas show, so he agreed to go with us (maybe he just didn't like sermons!). He enjoyed the service so much. He was also faithful to visit his sister several times a week at the nursing home. She always recognized him, though would ask him where "the folks" were? -- He'd just shake his head. (She still does not comprehend that he has been ill -- maybe it's a blessing, since she does not experience any sadness ever.)

Anyhow, we shall miss him a lot. He was a good man who was blessed with many nieces and nephews who cared about him. He lived life to the fullest with a good mind and body until the very end....Nancy Starr

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